tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8862674834030662722024-03-18T23:11:13.664-05:00The Last Page Turned Book BlogBook reviews of Print, e-Book, and Audio books, Old and New, as well as my Ramblings on other bookish adventures. Favored Genres include General Fiction, Fantasy, and Thriller/Suspense - but I have been known to stray to other genres on occasion.
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.comBlogger320125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-14475453481657613142021-06-10T09:08:00.000-05:002021-06-10T09:08:46.248-05:00The Secret of the Sword - By Sean R. Bell<p> </p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Secret of the Sword, by Sean R. Bell</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Friesen Press - 2021</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Illustrations by <span lang="EN-US">Nastassia Mkrtychan</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fantasy<br /><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ebook</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">188 pages</span><br /></span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i><i>* I received this digital ARC courtesy of the author in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3xhBQp9nvITKv5mKoj8gOWLKLJwq72Ps3wa1jXG0WKWbr4Nv_klkMNAIa8_tmP4nbp_epiMFY-96o8Otv6yZYzA1cpec9Z1jJyZ7OHquYy_MbPl9OcRP2ah4Ej3hnive5c6lMSuq0c8/s1080/0001-2475363849_20210606_192626_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3xhBQp9nvITKv5mKoj8gOWLKLJwq72Ps3wa1jXG0WKWbr4Nv_klkMNAIa8_tmP4nbp_epiMFY-96o8Otv6yZYzA1cpec9Z1jJyZ7OHquYy_MbPl9OcRP2ah4Ej3hnive5c6lMSuq0c8/s320/0001-2475363849_20210606_192626_0000.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This book brings Arthurian legend into the modern day. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As a child, Ian had a special bond with his grandfather Reg and often visited him in Montreal for extended periods of time. Many of Ian's fondest childhood memories were of time spent with Reg. Thirteen years after his grandfather's passing, Ian is still pained by the loss, and he has not returned to Montreal since his grandfather's passing. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now a grown man at the start of a film-making career, memories are brought to the surface in the form of a letter received on his birthday from a Montreal law firm, asking him to return to to the city by request of his late grandfather. While Ian doesn't really know what to expect, it is safe to say the what he learns was more than he could have ever imagined. He learns that his family line traces back to King Arthur - Pendragon blood runs in his veins! Not only was his grandfather a descendent of the great King, he was a key member of an ultra secret society of Merlinians whose purpose is to ensure that Morgana cannot escape her magical prison and return to the land of mortals. Of course, to keep the society secret, Ian is left not with a clear road-map, but with a series of clues which he must discern in order to find the real Excalibur and keep Morgana from victory. The result is a fantasy-adventure that bridges historical legend with today's world.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This book's strength lies in the story itself. It is original, imaginative, and well thought out, setting this book on a good foundation. I do love a good Arthurian tale. I found the character dialogue didn't work quite as well for me. It seemed slightly too formal for the modern day characters, and the historical characters' language did not quite suit them either. The story narration was good, but lacked a certain polish that might have elevated the story. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This book has several illustrations that definitely deserve mention. Nastassia Mkrtychan did a beautiful job of portraying several of the characters and scenes, and bringing life to them. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Overall, a good author debut, and good story for fans of Arthurian fantasy.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Happy Reading,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christine</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>Note: Links to this book on booksellers sites normally provided as convenience and courtesy (I am not currently using affiliate programs) are unavailable as of this writing. This is not an indication of the quality of the book, only of its status as either pending sale or unavailable by those outlets.</i></span></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-22164010119382172542021-05-24T09:08:00.001-05:002021-05-24T09:11:45.073-05:00Backstories, by Simon Van der Velde<p> </p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Backstories, by Simon Van der Velde</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Smoke and Mirrors Press - 2021</span><br />General Fiction (for lack of a better category)<br /><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">E-book</span><br />90 Pages</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">* I received this digital ARC courtesy of the author in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXOkXp7EvUWnF_NhSGxeTcJDDmPgtlgEK37rVw2g4Z4xyd7xWIJXvbrXfdG9J7hi_f0TevKyI3lReGALwnJXXjwGrrPOOhjOm-bfvxgHgI_hOKsuLek9baUzdq6-gfTIGjinJFbOTR3Y/s1080/0001-1764646121_20210523_144620_0000.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXOkXp7EvUWnF_NhSGxeTcJDDmPgtlgEK37rVw2g4Z4xyd7xWIJXvbrXfdG9J7hi_f0TevKyI3lReGALwnJXXjwGrrPOOhjOm-bfvxgHgI_hOKsuLek9baUzdq6-gfTIGjinJFbOTR3Y/s320/0001-1764646121_20210523_144620_0000.png" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When I was approached by this author, and he was telling me a little about his book, he said "There’s a little bit of music, a touch of crime, plenty of mystery and bucket-loads of nostalgia…". </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When an author or their rep tell me about their book, I know that they are trying to "sell" it - that is part of their job. But when I can tell you that this is exactly what this book is like. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Backstories is a collection of short stories. What makes this book so unique, is that the stories are the partially imagined past or "Backstories" of real world people who are either famous or infamous. Think history with a good dose of artistic license. Van der Velde has imagined the characters at a pivotal point in their lives or careers, and told that part of their stories - BUT, he never tells you outright who it is you are reading about. You take the clues, fill in the blanks and come up with the answer! This little book was so much fun to read. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For most of these stories, I felt confident by their end, that I knew exactly who the story was about. (Don't worry, if you are unable to sleep at night wondering, the answers are available on his website, carefully tucked away and marked "spoilers"), The collection of characters is fairly eclectic, so there was one or two that I felt slightly less confident about, but there is pretty much something for everyone here. Some of the stories featured contemporary figures, while some were more historic. I could honestly see reading this book out loud with another person and making a game of each story to see who comes up with the right answer first! It would be a fun diversion on a road trip too. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This little book was so fun to read, I hope to read other Backstories in the future!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Happy Reading,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christine</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Backstories-Simon-Van-Velde-ebook/dp/B08R7P65Y3/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=backstories+by+Simon+Van+der+Velde&qid=1621784465&sr=8-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="198" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgwaasJEdT5zUK6wMWdFIxuxONdu7Rq-tpxRag1CCEZFWKtbOMnYqqaK5zI9t8wSDWxCo51WPLz6ykIZX14zdFtKmkrELCT5KMZPXBXRqEsaAVRNjOCGVTRM88dQFnv7fG1R20m_4Jc4/w200-h89/Amazon-Canada-Buy-Now.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-79929985281877161242021-05-18T08:32:00.001-05:002021-05-18T08:32:24.538-05:00Master Artificer, by Justin T. Call<p> </p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Master Artificer, by Justin T. Call<br /></span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Silent Gods - book #2</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Blackstone Publishing - May 18, 2021 </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Fantasy</span><br />E-book</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">817 Pages</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">* I received this digital ARC courtesy of Blackstone Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoKpNItHZ1dew6sfsL0-jPlXEdq0YmmkvK3uG7izZZBOmxhCodtFFIkgcHAePgIm4TrItGNWcHwBVpkBazSUyxPjxdaPhiIUQ3-6mSKGe5MteHx3gVK7qEaBbH_XdvFWaUAitqz0vHJU/s1080/0001-1354798487_20210514_175702_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoKpNItHZ1dew6sfsL0-jPlXEdq0YmmkvK3uG7izZZBOmxhCodtFFIkgcHAePgIm4TrItGNWcHwBVpkBazSUyxPjxdaPhiIUQ3-6mSKGe5MteHx3gVK7qEaBbH_XdvFWaUAitqz0vHJU/s320/0001-1354798487_20210514_175702_0000.png" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In Master Artificer we continue with the exciting and epic story that began with Master of Sorrows, the first book in the Silent Gods series. If you haven't read that book yet, what are you waiting for? You can learn more about that first book by reading my review <i><a href="https://thelastpageturnedbookblog.blogspot.com/2020/02/review-master-of-sorrows-by-justin-t.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></i> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This second installment is a beast of a book - and I mean that in the very best way. It rings in at well over 800 pages, and each of those pages has something to offer the story. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We pick up where we left off at the end of Master of Sorrows. Chaenbalu lies in ruins, as does much of the beliefs Annev held prior to those events. Annev, and his friends forge ahead, to the city of Luqura. Annev is seeking to learn more about his magic, how to control it, and a way to remove the prosthetic that has melded itself to his body. This story is anything but the classical clear-cut good versus evil. Annev discovers that choices are not always so black and white, and once one's options offer nothing but choices in the grey, it is easy to stumble onto a darker path before you know it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Call is a master in his own rights. The world building is on point, but the character building in this book is extraordinary. Although Annev is considered the "main character" and it is his story that brings us to this book, from here we now see separate storylines emerge for several other characters whose rolls are not just "supporting actors", but are integral to the story. The result is a book that is rich, epic, and multi-faceted, as well as thoroughly captivating. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you are looking for a fantasy series that is light and bright and feel-good, this may not be the one for you; but if you are looking for an epic fantasy you can sink your teeth into, with dark threads and morally ambiguous characters, this series is sure to fit the bill. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Happy Reading,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christine</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/home/search/?keywords=master%20artificerf#internal=1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="300" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HrTjvzwjz9uI96WLoyISKTwut5WysCwd5DTUwZt3A0YjU1X5BxzVuprmdPU-ZLiOUjZX4loN9CUm91fTcTfH0cKlsUHTZZtR8XS3udxVWi7nP4_XCqS0d0FbjK-Z6-9cvUQrQBaKNt4/s200/Chapters-Indigo-Button1-300x173.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Master-Artificer-Silent-Justin-Travis/dp/198259179X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1619731605&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="95" data-original-width="300" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfKae5MdUtSH5ziVQouNmM-BHBPc-q3-PNFmKXptmhG0pWhnHfmEkYooh6uXzhZP1qrrMkJ9XbstvtNJOXGYeMwiu55yyZEcLaUYIB1D64fA5MPUExu-MBuNMCsov9gMSPiZkfVtQwgU/s200/BuyNow-Button-AmazonCA-300x95-1.png" width="200" /></a></div></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-87508724761937543172021-03-08T14:07:00.000-06:002021-03-08T14:07:51.249-06:00Honey Talk, by Declan Davey<p> </p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Honey Talk, by Declan Davey</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Indie/Small Press - 2019</span><br /><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Thriller - Psychological</span><br /><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">E-book</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">289 Pages</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXFussRFIslfMGAnTKWHX5EExV46gFCP3LryGhw71OatZ0OljOU37MUXfAeVSn0jx2Wc8ubUypDd9Ks42OUUo_NJTafiN4N8SBh_8fBKsM4E_rpotf4pyJisnI8b82UgHJKKkGMX3z3o/s1080/0001-17859159224_20210305_155403_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXFussRFIslfMGAnTKWHX5EExV46gFCP3LryGhw71OatZ0OljOU37MUXfAeVSn0jx2Wc8ubUypDd9Ks42OUUo_NJTafiN4N8SBh_8fBKsM4E_rpotf4pyJisnI8b82UgHJKKkGMX3z3o/s320/0001-17859159224_20210305_155403_0000.png" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">* I received this digital review copy courtesy of the author's rep in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Lily knows she needs therapy, but therapy isn't cheap, and paying to tell her deepest darkest secrets to a complete stranger isn't too appealing to her either. When Lily's friend Zayan is nearing the completion of his training to be a psychologist, Lily manipulates the situation by offering to "act" as a patient for him to practice on. Lily is pleased with her resourcefulness - what could go wrong? Lily creates a persona named Madison for their therapy sessions. But while Madison isn't real, her problems are. Stemming from childhood trauma, they are firmly rooted. Can Lily handle the therapy sessions? Can Zayan?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This story was engaging and had a good plot. The story is told in alternating timelines between Lily's struggles in the present and flashbacks to her traumatic past. Her deterioration though subtle at first, gains momentum and carries the plot to the final exciting pages of the book. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Honey Talk is a refreshing take on the the popular Thriller genre. A short, quick-paced book well worth the read. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Note: Honey Talk is described as book one of the Talk Series. As of this writing, the second book has not been released for sale. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Happy Reading,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Christine</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-43376872605509716232021-03-04T12:40:00.000-06:002021-03-04T12:40:05.295-06:00The Last Straw, by Ed Duncan<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Last Straw, by Ed Duncan</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pigeon-Blood Red Series</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Creativia (indi/small press) 2017</span><br />Thriller<br /><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">E-book</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">229 pages</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">* I received this digital copy courtesy of the author in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFaMeogjNlVEFAm2rqLGoKFJJ1jYcQXAEUDTei534iXsJdQjEPhtg30MaQumkDVivmDDQl3XJb0FV1pENatewv9Y74HioYHe8j7UkjLNV0tkiHskeANpLaos61E019ELeJ9rJEqELgn4/s1080/0001-16981497531_20210216_102631_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFaMeogjNlVEFAm2rqLGoKFJJ1jYcQXAEUDTei534iXsJdQjEPhtg30MaQumkDVivmDDQl3XJb0FV1pENatewv9Y74HioYHe8j7UkjLNV0tkiHskeANpLaos61E019ELeJ9rJEqELgn4/s320/0001-16981497531_20210216_102631_0000.png" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is one of the more interesting plot lines I have read for a thriller. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When a young teen aged girl named Sandy witnesses a carjacking gone bad she has no idea what turn her life is about to take. After barely escaping an attempt on her life she finds herself under the protection of a lawyer and a hit-man with a streak of decency. As the story unfolds, we find out that she has been marked for death by the father of the would-be carjacker. This results in a hit-man vs. hit-man theme that becomes the exciting backbone of this book. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">I had not read the first book in this series - Pigeon-Blood Red as I was of the understanding that this book works as a stand alone as well. In theory this is correct - you can read just The Last Straw by itself and it has a satisfying story arc. However, I suspect that I might have enjoyed this book even more if I had read Pigeon-Blood Red first. So if you are thinking of reading it, do yourself the fav</span>or and consider reading the first book as well (it is eligible for Kindle unlimited for those who subscribe to it, or it is </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a great deal for those who don't</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">). That being said, Duncan's story was fast paced, a little gritty, and had just enough going on to make it entertaining without being "overdone". </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Last Straw is a worthy read for fans of mystery/thrillers. It works well enough as a stand-alone novel, but it is worth considering the first and of the series as well. Either way, this book was an easy, entertaining read, and Duncan is a name to watch for in the future. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Note: Book 3 in the series - Rico Stays, is now available on Amazon as well</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Happy Reading,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christine</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-15932047091154166262021-01-01T18:02:00.000-06:002021-01-01T18:02:27.631-06:0020 for 2020 Wrap up<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">The 20 for 2020 Wrap-Up</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7jcF3uR5sHsbCL7Ydla03KphGxcA_O5t50PnsYssVSGPbSfXF2ESJaHni8aMVm1zMnxICpeH074KKHcnKQq5bR50mdgxNI-mOvw43giL_V_hLYAlEdXLyzaSwNPJ7Q5L96FJ43-nW4U/s800/20200102_081643_0000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7jcF3uR5sHsbCL7Ydla03KphGxcA_O5t50PnsYssVSGPbSfXF2ESJaHni8aMVm1zMnxICpeH074KKHcnKQq5bR50mdgxNI-mOvw43giL_V_hLYAlEdXLyzaSwNPJ7Q5L96FJ43-nW4U/s320/20200102_081643_0000.png" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So another year, come and gone. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Looking back, there is no doubt that 2020 was a challenging year for everyone. Some of us found more that we had much more free time, and some found we had much less. Without getting into all the different challenges we all faced this past year, it is suffice to say - we all suffered somewhat. I can not think of anyone I know that came out of 2020 unscathed on some level or another. I am thankful for the health of the people closest to me, and hope for continued luck in that. Everything else will improve in time. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I found myself struggling a little with reading, and a lot with finding time to review early in the year. I stopped requesting and accepting advance copies as I could not say with any degree of certainty that I would be able to offer any kind of meaningful review in a timely matter. At the time of this writing, I have finished most of my advance copy books, but I'm so far behind on reviews, that writing them is even more time consuming because I have to constantly stop and refresh my memory. Because of this I am not even attempting to review books that were not provided in exchange of a review. Not that I don't think they deserve it - I just needed to prioritize my time more carefully for the time being. Add to that changes made to the blogging platform (not a fan) and some of the time saving tools I used to use (like hootsuite) that made them less functional to my needs, and everything just seems to take more time and effort. I am starting to consider dropping some of my platforms and accounts to make things a little more manageable. Every time I start to think of this though, I have to wonder where to make "the cuts"? Twitter is more time consuming than Instagram, but when I am active on both, Twitter seems to be a little more engaging. Goodreads is all books all the time, and My Book Pledge is lots of fun, but doesn't offer a lot of interaction. Facebook is where I am most comfortable, but to be honest, that is where I have made the least progress with building a following. Sigh....I know I want to make changes to make thinks more manageable and fun again - I just haven't figured out exactly what. I just know that I am happier when I can talk about books with other book lovers. So I hope wherever this year takes me, I will see some familiar friends and make some new ones. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One year ago, I posted my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge, not realizing that it might be more challenging than I thought. Thankfully, I am a huge audiobook fan, so even when my print and e-book reading slowed down, and my reviews slowed to a mere trickle, I was able to enjoy a lot of really great books. I didn't end up reviewing many, but I did have entries on my challenge. I would love to hear from others who took on the challenge for 2020. How did you do? Have you read any of these books? what did you think?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here is my Challenge results. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Backlist</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Read a book that is at least 2 years old</span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">.- Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett
and Neil Gaiman</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Frontlist </span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">- Read a book that is a new release (less than 6
months old)</span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Dear
Edward, by Ann Napolitano</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Truth</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Read a Non-Fiction title that is not a biography/memoir (True
Crime, Documentary, etc.) </span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Blood in the Water, by Silver
Donald Cameron</span><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">People Person Books </span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">- Read a Biography or memoir </span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">From the Ashes, by Jesse thistle.</span><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Quick and Easy</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Read a novella or short book - 250 pages or
less (or the audiobook equivalent) OR read a collection of short stories</span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">. – Smile, by Roddy Doyle </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Long Haul </span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">- Read a long book - 450 pages or more (or the
audiobook equivalent) </span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Pretty Things, by Janelle Brown</span><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Indie Inclined</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Read an Indie or small press published
title</span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> – West
Of Sin, by Wesley S. Lewis</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Listen Up!</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Listen to an audiobook </span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">– The Other Wes Moore, by Wes Moore</span><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Long Ago</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Read a book that takes place more than 25 years ago </span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">– A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor
Towles</span><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">10.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Different Worlds</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> – Read a Science Fiction or Fantasy Book </span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">– Magic Lessons, by Alice Hoffman<s><o:p></o:p></s></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">11.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Reading on the Edge of Your Seat</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Read a
Thriller/Suspense/Mystery book</span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> – Turn of the Key, by Ruth Ware</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">12.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Traveler Through Books</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Read a book that has been translated from
another language</span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> – The
Warning, by Paul Pen and translated by Simon Bruni</span><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">13.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Young at Heart </span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">- Read a YA novel</span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Children of Virtue and Vengeance, by Tomi Adeyemi</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">14.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Books That Go Bump In The Night</span></s></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Read a Horror or Ghost story The Invited,
by Jennifer McMahon</span><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">15.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">New Beginnings </span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">- Start a new (to you) series or trilogy</span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
Master of Sorrows, book 1 of The Silent Gods, by Justin Call</span><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">16.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Meet a New Author</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Read a debut novel </span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">– Sharks In The Time of Saviors,
by Kawai Strong Washburn</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">17.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Relationship Goals ...Or Not</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Read a book that centers around the
beginning or the end of a relationship/marriage. (Romance, Domestic Noir, etc)
-</span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> My Dark
Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">18.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Read a Movie</span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> - Read a book that is also a movie – </span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Harry Potter and the Half Blood
Prince (re-reading as I read the series to my son at bedtime. (starting before
her now infamous comments – Please don’t @ me)</span><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">19.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Winner is... </span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">- Read a book Short-listed for a major literary</span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> award – To The River: Losing My
Brother, by Don Gillmor – Winner of the Governor General’s award for
non-fiction in 2019.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3pt 54pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">20.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">One World </span></s></b><s><span style="font-size: 10pt;">- Read a book written by, and that has a main
character that is someone of a different color, culture, sexual orientation, or
religion than you.</span></s><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> The
Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So, once posted, I will be un-pinning the 20 for 2020 posts on the blog and on twitter. I really do want to take the time to wish everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous, and bookish New Year. May this year be kinder to us all than the last. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmoLyvThhdfQWCy_47w621T2RewBn1d-GIi2SFkhVSFPf9ljO372RDDhrUI16FHz4fGZf1lIyQHtbB_fWzwHIDCUVXJDMpZiu8_WZVG0Hf1MIAYo05AUwv1NC-h6QDTqxONnaUILVjhw/s244/th+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="244" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmoLyvThhdfQWCy_47w621T2RewBn1d-GIi2SFkhVSFPf9ljO372RDDhrUI16FHz4fGZf1lIyQHtbB_fWzwHIDCUVXJDMpZiu8_WZVG0Hf1MIAYo05AUwv1NC-h6QDTqxONnaUILVjhw/w400-h253/th+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wishing you all the best for 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Happy Reading, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christine</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><p></p>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-57089063308869304072020-12-16T19:30:00.003-06:002020-12-16T19:30:53.905-06:00His & Hers, by Alice Feeney<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">His and Hers, by Alice Feeney</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">MacMillan Audio - 2020</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thriller</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Audiobook</span><br /><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Narrated by Richard Armitage and Stephanie Racine </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">10 Hours, 39 Minutes</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><i>* I received this digital ARC courtesy of </i></span><span><i>MacMillan Audio</i></span><i>, via NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lvQr6gLrTgQ1Jzp1f-qkdV5zXtquEBGXK_SaoK3duPkVGgth3LDi7ms1WyGVGlQK-EI68QIMYMzViU9My3oXpmW1oDusLF2JcAc6WKy649FtXtoeipcczM3mrNqQP0M1wG8Evjw1mAA/s2048/20201209_204144_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lvQr6gLrTgQ1Jzp1f-qkdV5zXtquEBGXK_SaoK3duPkVGgth3LDi7ms1WyGVGlQK-EI68QIMYMzViU9My3oXpmW1oDusLF2JcAc6WKy649FtXtoeipcczM3mrNqQP0M1wG8Evjw1mAA/w320-h320/20201209_204144_0000.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Alice Feeney returns with a vengeance with another well thought out and twisty thriller to keep readers eagerly listening to "just one more chapter" - talk about lying to yourself</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Anna was returning to work as a television reporter and news presenter after her maternity leave, only to find that the woman who was supposed to be her temporary replacement has made herself quite comfortable and is not going anywhere - in fact she not only took over the job Anna took leave from, she took over the job Anna was working towards. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now struggling to balance the needs of her family with the demands of her cut-throat work environment, Anna is trying to have it all, and is determined to do whatever it takes to reclaim her rightful position at the news desk.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>When Anna is dispatched to cover a recently discovered murder, she sees it as an opportunity to try and reclaim her position behind the anchor desk and to get back on track for her planned career path, but instead she finds herself in the middle of the murder investigation when the victim turns out to be an old childhood friend. But she is not the only one, Detective Jack Harper soon becomes a suspect as well. </span>What is true, what is just perception, and what are lies? The truth is elusive, hiding in the shadows of this story. impossible to see in its entirety until the very end. Just the way it should be in a good twisty thriller!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This audiobook was narrated by Richard Armitage and Stephanie Racine and I could not imagine better casting. Both performed extremely well, but I cannot say enough about the creep factor in Richard Armitage's performance as an anonymous male narrator. So deep and dark...a perfect addition to Feeney's already engaging, dark tale!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Feeney's writing is enthralling and edgy in its own right, but this book, I suspect, is even better as an audiobook. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Happy Reading,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christine</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><br /><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/his-hers-a-novel/9781250622198-item.html?ref=item_page%3Avariation" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="300" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HrTjvzwjz9uI96WLoyISKTwut5WysCwd5DTUwZt3A0YjU1X5BxzVuprmdPU-ZLiOUjZX4loN9CUm91fTcTfH0cKlsUHTZZtR8XS3udxVWi7nP4_XCqS0d0FbjK-Z6-9cvUQrQBaKNt4/s200/Chapters-Indigo-Button1-300x173.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/His-Hers-A-Novel/dp/B07TDMKKDQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1607564054&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="95" data-original-width="300" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfKae5MdUtSH5ziVQouNmM-BHBPc-q3-PNFmKXptmhG0pWhnHfmEkYooh6uXzhZP1qrrMkJ9XbstvtNJOXGYeMwiu55yyZEcLaUYIB1D64fA5MPUExu-MBuNMCsov9gMSPiZkfVtQwgU/s200/BuyNow-Button-AmazonCA-300x95-1.png" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-11243431406368732020-10-07T12:54:00.006-05:002020-10-07T12:56:34.510-05:00The Nothing Man, by Catherine Ryan Howard<p> </p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">The Nothing Man, by Catherine Ryan Howard</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Blackstone Publishing, 2020</span><br />Suspense/Thriller<br /><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Audiobook</span><br /><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Narrated by Alana Kerr Collins, and John Keating</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9 Hours, 57 Minutes</span><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i><i>* I received a review copy of this Audiobook, courtesy of Blackstone Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFflRnfzh17BdxxvampMG3kDW5qDhsl2otHQC_WhUTuRpWBO5Zt4IDDyeRVtTz6jZmqVeVQnEW5opuv1XD5QYl9s8kJqNXss40QPBrlbUevg_4OkNqFPSTv2Rs690O1HQebzzNqcbjhEE/s1080/20201003_172624_0000.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFflRnfzh17BdxxvampMG3kDW5qDhsl2otHQC_WhUTuRpWBO5Zt4IDDyeRVtTz6jZmqVeVQnEW5opuv1XD5QYl9s8kJqNXss40QPBrlbUevg_4OkNqFPSTv2Rs690O1HQebzzNqcbjhEE/w320-h320/20201003_172624_0000.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The only survivor of a brutal crime decides she will not be a victim any more. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At only twelve years old, Eve was the only member of her family to survive the night a serial killer entered her home. The killer was never caught and her family's case was one of several attributed to the elusive serial killer dubbed "The Nothing Man" that went unsolved. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Years later, as an adult, Eve is obsessed with identifying the serial killer . She puts all her memories into words, detailing everything that she remembers from that awful night into a kind of true crime victim memoir. The book is an instant hit with almost everybody wanting to read it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jim is an aging security guard working at a grocery store. When this book is published, his world is rocked. He fervently reads the book. Is there enough information there to catch the elusive killer? Jim reads on, hoping not - because <i>he</i> is The Nothing Man. Realizing that Eve remembers more than he thought, Jim must stop Eve before he is exposed to the world as a serial killer. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I love a good thriller where it is difficult to tell which who is the hunter and who is the hunted. Though you know from early on that Eve is the victim and Jim is the serial killer, the story still has questions, and twists, and surprises. The tension builds as these two circle each other in their dangerous dance, until the final pages reveal a satisfying conclusion. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Narration for this audiobook was provided by Alana Kerr Collins, and John Keating. Both performed well with clear voices, pleasant cadence, and giving a suitable range of emotion to the characters as the story played out. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">An enjoyable, engaging book for those that like suspense.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Happy Reading,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christine</span></div><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/The-Nothing-Man/dp/B084XVW8HR/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1601762793&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="95" data-original-width="300" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfKae5MdUtSH5ziVQouNmM-BHBPc-q3-PNFmKXptmhG0pWhnHfmEkYooh6uXzhZP1qrrMkJ9XbstvtNJOXGYeMwiu55yyZEcLaUYIB1D64fA5MPUExu-MBuNMCsov9gMSPiZkfVtQwgU/s200/BuyNow-Button-AmazonCA-300x95-1.png" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-78461940683962679342020-08-18T20:13:00.002-05:002020-12-31T20:49:04.391-06:00Three Perfect Liars, by Heidi Perks<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Three Perfect Liars, by Heidi Perks</span></span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""><span face="">Simon & Schuster Canada - August 18, 2020</span></span><br /><span face=""><span face="">Genre </span></span><br /><span face="">E-book </span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="">336 pages</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: helvetica; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFHUQhIxaG33HywYI_Vioz9yd2mtE6WdfcEKO3Fv24SD7MR6mhUkOLylC_1Pyjt5_8XfB65a4dK1P0kayrIHO9JXN6LMXeG2rAxOmjgTpKxN65KHqH-EsfX-yVWboTUrPjRFbnwhE3H8/w200-h200/20200817_094558_0000.png" width="200" /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span face=""><span face=""><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""><span face=""><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""><span face=""><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""><span face=""><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""><span face=""><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""><span face=""><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""><span face=""><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""><span face="">* I received this digital ARC courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Three Perfect Liars, but Heidi Perks is an enjoyable thriller with a complex plot.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The story surrounds the events leading up to a fatal fire at an up-and-coming advertising agency. There are several people who may have had motive to start the fire. The three main suspects are Janie, the company head's wife who is no longer happy with her marriage and is exploring for a "way out". Laura, a new mom struggling to adapt to the demands of family while putting her career back on track , as well as navigating a tense professional rivalry with Mia who was supposed to be her temporary replacement during her maternity leave, and Mia herself, who is keeping secrets and lied on her application. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What I liked about the this story was the complex plot line. The three women's stories tangled and woven into one another made for a solid base to this story.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Unfortunately, for me, there were a few factors that resulted in this story not quite meeting its full potential. The story seemed to move a little slowly and drag a little at times. This may in part have been the result of the heavy use of police reports as a vehicle to tell the story. While a popular method of disseminating information in crime thrillers, I personally find the method clunky, repetitive, and disturbing to the momentum of the story. I also did not find the characters particularly likable. The ending was a little soft as its believability seemed to be a bit of a stretch for me. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""><span style="font-family: helvetica;">All in all, a good story, but one that fell a little short of its full potential. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Happy Reading,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christine</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Three-Perfect-Liars-Heidi-Perks/dp/1982152389/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&qid=1597760010&ref_=tmm_pap_title_0&sr=8-1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="28" data-original-width="90" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCM8aRK5NuQm-jufDC4xQhGF1-7nxsxRsNG21DpBmAeNsQRFlPiOCkx3PxSicj1qUwh93ZGsqG6B58RaYJCEpUKegKg57cajleKwzOhqnWOEOtl2k8W1o3g9xBNpkspAe8X6J3_bw5_Y/w200-h62/buy-from-ca-tan.gif" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/three-perfect-liars-a-novel/9781982152383-item.html?ikwid=three+perfect+liars&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=961cebdafcf863351dc65ac58aafac67" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="300" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HrTjvzwjz9uI96WLoyISKTwut5WysCwd5DTUwZt3A0YjU1X5BxzVuprmdPU-ZLiOUjZX4loN9CUm91fTcTfH0cKlsUHTZZtR8XS3udxVWi7nP4_XCqS0d0FbjK-Z6-9cvUQrQBaKNt4/w200-h115/Chapters-Indigo-Button1-300x173.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-12172780465036126022020-06-30T09:02:00.000-05:002020-06-30T09:02:17.551-05:00Review: The Dilemma, by B. A. Paris<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The Dilemma, by B. A. Paris</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">St. Martin's Press - June 30, 2020</span><br /><font face="">General Fiction</font><br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">E-book</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">305 pages</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">* I received this digital ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5WamSD875xPzNM3kuUA0AD81n_YbC1UOonlGdOT9plkF3oHUqqUXFKnEdCrOwr6qCLOcqF25Emv6wtONQaD2UxQgOvrRQauv6VQDZvXR_K8eCvptXGjjlEX92-ijid9sc7NjXXIsLrM/s1080/20200630_075808_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5WamSD875xPzNM3kuUA0AD81n_YbC1UOonlGdOT9plkF3oHUqqUXFKnEdCrOwr6qCLOcqF25Emv6wtONQaD2UxQgOvrRQauv6VQDZvXR_K8eCvptXGjjlEX92-ijid9sc7NjXXIsLrM/s320/20200630_075808_0000.png" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A moving tale of love, loss, and the ties that bind. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved Paris' first three thrilling novels, so when I saw that she had another book in the wings, I could not say yes fast enough! </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This book is a departure from her early writing style though. Rather than a nail biting thriller, this book is more a work of general or literary fiction. There is no real edge of your seat, bite your nails tension, or get you from out of nowhere twists - but her writing is still solid in this diversion from her previous work. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Livia has dreamed for years of having the perfect party for her fortieth birthday, and her loving husband Adam has done what he can to give her the party of her dreams. The Marquee tent is set up, and all of Livia's most cherished friends and family will be there - all except their daughter Marnie who is living overseas that is. Livia doesn't know it yet, but Adam has arranged for Marnie to come home as a surprise! But as the final touches are being seen to for the party, Adam is burdened with a secret that may destroy Livia. As he struggles to keep his secret, she too is heavily burdened with the weight of a secret. As the evening progresses, and the weight of these secrets threatens to suffocate them both, neither knows that the other is also carrying a secret that can destroy their world as they know it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="">As I mentioned earlier, this is a new genre and style for Paris. I love her crazy twisted thrillers, and if that is what you are looking for, you should know that his book doesn't have that edge - but it does have heart. I found it a little slow moving, but certainly not unbearably so. All in all, a worthy read, and a good first foray into something new for Paris.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Christine</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Dilemma-Novel-B-Paris-ebook/dp/B07X15T83T/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="28" data-original-width="90" height="35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnPMSWxzXSnkqOCPpKNip6iWXV7Q_OWxzLaBJD4ZR4NPz1IPJRWuJNA90EQNaq0MJco8_7PBQ-h8iuTDw2W2nPYRE8_PTQEaKB46vdYPd5VZLQzx65URizKIsaYX_FxGLzK1lWS6XGD0/w113-h35/buy-from-ca-tan.gif" width="113" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-dilemma-a-novel/9781250272201-item.html?ikwid=The+Dilemma&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=3fddf5eabba9502f8b6e1dd808faf40b" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="300" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoZRxqq7pfc95ssmoIeqPI5YueOCjq5RU2yTDZjgHuRn1Basz5qa0WfHrcSseB-QXizOzWDoxn85nbeXf4wMkb_I4TOHj1XQPcWp7Zssdt54owBj8d5Iecma2epqG_83l4bFF08y491w/w154-h88/Chapters-Indigo-Button1-300x173.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-88078078571097295412020-05-31T10:08:00.001-05:002020-05-31T10:44:06.834-05:00Quick Review: From The Ashes: My Story of Being Metis, Homeless, and Finding My Way, by Jesse Thistle<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: allerta; font-size: 22px; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Finalist, Kobo Emerging Writer Prize</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Finalist, CBC Canada Reads</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">A <i>Globe and Mail</i> Book of the Year</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">An Indigo Book of the Year</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">A CBC Best Canadian Nonfiction Book of the Year</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uos8jwJVjyR0kxe-iKSKql5HMofO4XqywvmeOafy8XndFZJ0IV9n51teUyOgfiT9KOJ8wFOm6qKoP5bUs063pBJwpFsd_cRlM5B_ivsObEJigM6dkP-6Woc_2_5TDcSYoiaQHQ_zp4s/s1600/20200418_173443_0000.png" style="color: #949494; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1120" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uos8jwJVjyR0kxe-iKSKql5HMofO4XqywvmeOafy8XndFZJ0IV9n51teUyOgfiT9KOJ8wFOm6qKoP5bUs063pBJwpFsd_cRlM5B_ivsObEJigM6dkP-6Woc_2_5TDcSYoiaQHQ_zp4s/s320/20200418_173443_0000.png" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">*Quick Reviews are slightly less formal reviews using the publishers summary</span></i></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #9e9e9e;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From The Ashes, by Jesse Thistle is my choice to fulfill item number 4 -</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">People Person Books </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #9e9e9e;">- Read a Biography or memoir, for my 20 For 2020 Book Challenge</span><span style="color: #5c5c5c;">.</span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">In this extraordinary and inspiring debut memoir, Jesse Thistle, once a high school dropout and now a rising Indigenous scholar, chronicles his life on the streets and how he overcame trauma and addiction to discover the truth about who he is.</b><br style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" /><i style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">If I can just make it to the next minute...then I might have a chance to live; I might have a chance to be something more than just a struggling crackhead.</i><br style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" /><i style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">From the Ashes</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> is a remarkable memoir about hope and resilience, and a revelatory look into the life of a Métis-Cree man who refused to give up.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Abandoned by his parents as a toddler, Jesse Thistle briefly found himself in the foster-care system with his two brothers, cut off from all they had known. Eventually the children landed in the home of their paternal grandparents, whose tough-love attitudes quickly resulted in conflicts. Throughout it all, the ghost of Jesse’s drug-addicted father haunted the halls of the house and the memories of every family member. Struggling with all that had happened, Jesse succumbed to a self-destructive cycle of drug and alcohol addiction and petty crime, spending more than a decade on and off the streets, often homeless. Finally, he realized he would die unless he turned his life around.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In this heartwarming and heart-wrenching memoir, Jesse Thistle writes honestly and fearlessly about his painful past, the abuse he endured, and how he uncovered the truth about his parents. Through sheer perseverance and education—and newfound love—he found his way back into the circle of his Indigenous culture and family.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">An eloquent exploration of the impact of prejudice and racism, </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">From the Ashes</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> is, in the end, about how love and support can help us find happiness despite the odds.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: helvetica;"><br />I bought a copy of this book because it was a finalist for CBC's Canada Reads 2020. I try to read at least a few from the list every year. (Unfortunately this year's competition was cancelled due to COVID 19 concerns). As my reading time fell off rather suddenly, I ended up listening to the audiobook </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;">From the Ashes, by Jesse Thistle is an important and deeply moving memoir. Thistle is able to chronicle his story from trauma, to tribulation and ultimately love and redemption, It is a testament to both the fragility and strength of the human spirit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;">With heart wrenching honesty Thistle describes his life from unstable childhood into addiction and life on the streets, and eventually the difficult recovery and mastery over his demons. As a reader with a certain amount of privilege, it is a good reminder that many addicts and street people more often than not, come from a place of pain. His openness and honesty in his writing resulted in a recounting that is tough and gritty, yet not without love and hope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;">By reading the story himself for the audiobook, the listener is graced with with experience of listening to his story in his words and hearing it as though it is a first hand telling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;">This memoir is an important book for Canadians as we work towards a future where there is more empathy and understanding and less judgement and racism. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Christine</span></span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-14043807848441944372020-05-19T13:11:00.001-05:002020-05-19T13:11:30.915-05:00Review - Pretty Things, by Janelle Brown<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pretty Things, by Janelle Brown</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Random House Canada - April 21, 2020</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thriller</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">E-book</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">470 Pages</span><br />
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<i><br /></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* I received this digital ARC courtesy of Random House Canada, via NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqitFpIeHmC-LyJVyvcuwicVB5mV4ztZS_KrkqXkpcVJ0ds1kgOmIxfrSThbyHw7csZVEsmY4ttCBZHGwL3JD2-KRdRHDRLNGRAlpt4aLNSLOGOskJFmw0T0FB6FyMHBSQ5oVADmZeKZw/s1600/20200519_125722_0000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqitFpIeHmC-LyJVyvcuwicVB5mV4ztZS_KrkqXkpcVJ0ds1kgOmIxfrSThbyHw7csZVEsmY4ttCBZHGwL3JD2-KRdRHDRLNGRAlpt4aLNSLOGOskJFmw0T0FB6FyMHBSQ5oVADmZeKZw/s320/20200519_125722_0000.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Rating (out of 5)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pretty Things by Janelle Brown is a modern, character driven story of class and revenge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nina had dreams and aspirations. but as the daughter of a con artist, she eventually falls into her mother's line of work. Nina's world threatens to implode when her mother falls ill. Desperate to save her mother, she and her boyfriend Lachlan plan a job much larger and riskier than anything they have done in the past. A job that will see Nina return to Lake Tahoe where she once lived.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vanessa was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Never having had to worry about money she travels the world as a fashion influencer, modeling clothing and products given to her by top design houses in exchange for a spot on her popular Instagram feed. When her engagement is broken, she retreats to Stonehaven - the mansion she inherited on the shores of Lake Tahoe, but was the setting for some of the most traumatic events in her life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As these women come together, their pasts and the present meld into a tale of desperation and revenge, double-handedness and deceit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I struggled to get into the story. It wasn't until about half way that it started to pick up for me. Part of the problem was my personal situation and reaction during the COVID adjustments, but I think that only intensified the slow start of this book for me. Once I reached the half-way mark and the story started to take shape, it become more enjoyable, and by the end I was quite enjoying it; so even though slow to start the ending was strong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Character development for this novel was one of the things about it I did enjoy. As the story unfolds we see in both women aspects of victim and villain. Both have been shaped by their life experiences and seeing each from different perspectives gives depth and dimension to them and to the story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The plot was strong and had some good twists to keep the reader on their toes. The ending was clean and satisfying. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All in all, while slow to start, this novel was a solid character driven thriller with an exciting and satisfying conclusion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-72063330123579257402020-05-16T15:48:00.000-05:002020-05-17T07:40:48.579-05:00Review: Cousins' Club, by Warren Alexander<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cousins' Club, by Warren Alexander</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next Chapter Audio LTD - 2020</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Audiobook</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narrated by TJ Clark</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5 Hours, 39 Minutes</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*I received this review copy courtesy of the narrator - TJ Clark, in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxnK9ctGDLyr-nmWUpxVTLbp_d_sTLXGPprDX0-XWbMSqy6LgAJ3tgw5qgvStPBp8uL9V4tdUd2onXeDJyKFJWCgVWkMXdVq2lbTUNil_ibz9FSZw8p-eKRN7TPCeiGkVhmNOQAU-WwU/s1600/20200516_153535_0000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxnK9ctGDLyr-nmWUpxVTLbp_d_sTLXGPprDX0-XWbMSqy6LgAJ3tgw5qgvStPBp8uL9V4tdUd2onXeDJyKFJWCgVWkMXdVq2lbTUNil_ibz9FSZw8p-eKRN7TPCeiGkVhmNOQAU-WwU/s320/20200516_153535_0000.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Rating (out of 5)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">⭐⭐⭐⭐</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quirky and fun, Cousins' Club is a light and enjoyable diversion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the matriarch of a Jewish family in 1950's New York prophesises that the next child born into the family will be a genius, she decides that none of the family is smart enough to raise the child alone, and dictates that the entire extended family will take turns raising the child. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What ensues is a satirical look at the core nature of families and the individuals that make them up, that applies just as much to the average family today as to the family of this story - and that is what makes it so enjoyable. As the boy grows up living among various colorful family members, the reader is treated to many chuckles as the story unfolds and the young man comes of age. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Did the genius child learn something from each of the family members? Absolutely! Was it what the grandmother had envisioned the child learning? Absolutely not! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TJ Clark did a wonderful job of bringing life to all of the fun, wacky characters in this book. His voice was clear and pleasant, and he performed with an impressive range of characters, and the appropriate emotion. I would not hesitate a second to purchase another audiobook narrated by Clark. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This pairing of an amusing story and talented narrator made Cousins' Club a humorous and enjoyable audiobook, well worth the listen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Cousins-Club-Warren-Alexander-ebook/dp/B06Y2JLWHP/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=cousins+club&qid=1589416378&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="95" data-original-width="300" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfKae5MdUtSH5ziVQouNmM-BHBPc-q3-PNFmKXptmhG0pWhnHfmEkYooh6uXzhZP1qrrMkJ9XbstvtNJOXGYeMwiu55yyZEcLaUYIB1D64fA5MPUExu-MBuNMCsov9gMSPiZkfVtQwgU/s200/BuyNow-Button-AmazonCA-300x95-1.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-25407763756491446482020-05-12T13:14:00.003-05:002020-05-12T14:06:02.632-05:00Quick Review: The Red Lotus, by Chris Bohjalian<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Allerta; font-size: 22px; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Red Lotus, by Chris Bohjalian</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Random House Audio</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Audiobook</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12 Hours, 1 Minute</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narrated by Rebecca Lowman</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uos8jwJVjyR0kxe-iKSKql5HMofO4XqywvmeOafy8XndFZJ0IV9n51teUyOgfiT9KOJ8wFOm6qKoP5bUs063pBJwpFsd_cRlM5B_ivsObEJigM6dkP-6Woc_2_5TDcSYoiaQHQ_zp4s/s1600/20200418_173443_0000.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #949494; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1120" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uos8jwJVjyR0kxe-iKSKql5HMofO4XqywvmeOafy8XndFZJ0IV9n51teUyOgfiT9KOJ8wFOm6qKoP5bUs063pBJwpFsd_cRlM5B_ivsObEJigM6dkP-6Woc_2_5TDcSYoiaQHQ_zp4s/s200/20200418_173443_0000.png" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px; text-align: center;"><i>*Quick Reviews are slightly less formal reviews using the publishers summary</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Publisher's Summary:</span></h4>
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The first time Alexis saw Austin, it was a Saturday night. Not in a bar, but in the emergency room where Alexis sutured a bullet wound in Austin's arm. Six months later, on the brink of falling in love, they travel to Vietnam on a bike tour so that Austin can show her his passion for cycling and he can pay his respects to the place where his father and uncle fought in the war. But as Alexis sips white wine and waits at the hotel for him to return from his solo ride, two men emerge from the tall grass and Austin vanishes into thin air. The only clue he leaves behind is a bright yellow energy gel dropped on the road.</div>
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As Alexis grapples with this bewildering loss, and deals with the FBI, Austin's prickly family, and her colleagues at the hospital, Alexis uncovers a series of strange lies that force her to wonder: Where did Austin go? Why did he really bring her to Vietnam? And how much danger has he left her in?</div>
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Set amidst the adrenaline-fueled world of the emergency room, <i>The Red Lotus</i> is a global thriller about those who dedicate their lives to saving people, and those who peddle death to the highest bidder.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My thoughts:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #5c5c5c;">I always enjoy Chris Bohjalian's books. I can count on him to write solid, engaging, stories. The Red Lotus may be a slow burn thriller, but I never felt bored with it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #5c5c5c;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #5c5c5c;">Bohjalian knows how to draw a reader into a story and keep their attention! It is clear from the beginning of The Red Lotus, that Bohjalian has taken the time to do a significant amount of research for this book, ensuring medical, technical, and cultural aspects have a realistic feel to them</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #5c5c5c;">. This, paired with his good sense of literary timing, results in a highly engaging story with a c</span></span><span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">omplex, well timed, and interesting plot</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #5c5c5c;">. </span></span><span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The characters development is strong with the lead characters being multi-faceted and interesting. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a side note: this book was released in the midst of the pandemic. </span><span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though while writing it I doubt Bohjalian could have ever imagined that this book would be released into the world enduring our current state of affairs, and t</span><span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he coincidence of some of the subject matter in the book was quite striking to me as a reader. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narration was provided by Rebecca Lowman, who performed well with good cadence and tone, as well as range of characters and emotion, making listening to this story as an audiobook a pleasure. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Engaging and well written, The Red Lotus is an enjoyable international thriller.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-13771855724693864442020-04-23T13:08:00.001-05:002020-04-24T11:55:32.667-05:00Quick Review:The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Harlequin Audio - 2020</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">General Fiction/Historical Fiction</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Audiobook</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10 Hours, 56 Minutes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narrated by Sneha Mathan</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>*Quick Reviews are slightly less formal reviews using the publishers summary</i></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">This book, steeped in the culture of 1950's India, is my choice to fulfill item #20 - <b><span style="line-height: 14.2667px;">One World </span></b><span style="line-height: 14.2667px;">- Read a book written by, and that has a main character that is someone of a different color, culture, sexual orientation, or religion than you, on my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge. You can see the full list <a href="https://thelastpageturnedbookblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/20-for-2020-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Publisher's Summary:</span></h4>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own…</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Joshi is as much an artist as her character Lakshmi. Her writing flows easily and the story was absolutely captivating. She easily sets the readers imagination to creating 1950's India in all its culturally rich and vibrant glory. Her characters are well defined and multi-faceted, with her protagonist Lakshmi being an especially striking character - smart, brave, incredibly compassionate, and a little ahead of her time. The reader easily becomes invested in Lakshmi's story and struggles</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narration for this audiobook was provided by Sneha Mathan, who not only performed well but was also well suited to the story. Listening to this wonderful tale being told by such a talented narrator made it easy to become immersed in Lakshmi's story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-79164305330809458242020-04-19T14:39:00.001-05:002020-04-20T11:38:40.053-05:00The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Glass Magician, by Caroline Stevermer</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MacMillan-Tor/Forge - April 2020</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fantasy</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Awards and Honors if applic.</span><br />
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<i><br /></i><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* I received this digital ARC courtesy of MacMillan-Tor Forge, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</span></i></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXm2M50HY51hibZOLT_FlEO_15GNYa1DI1bV1I01V5EutRFtm0YXM6v5ZnbqNjNUvJdNC6jUv7mUW1krFe0UMqOaLYVzzgtXnsIXArEZeQk-QjSz_Ms5t11TxVSYRLcBG5rh03tsjGHNQ/s320/20200418_203534_0000.png" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A fun cross-genre book combining elements of YA, historical fantasy, and murder-mystery. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Set in the New York of the early 1900's, society is divided into Solitaires - non-magical people, and Sylvestri - magical people. Thalia - a solitaire, is a successful stage magician with a popular show. Her partner is the man who cared for her and raised her after she was orphaned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One night the act goes wrong, and she nearly dies - a sudden manifestation of magical ability is all that saved her. It turns out that she is not a solitaire after all, but a trader - a sylvestri. The arrival of these new abilities puts her in danger from Manticores - beasts who feast on uncontrolled magic and those who have it. Around this same time that Thalia discovers her magic, her fiercest rival is killed while performing an act that the two rivals had been competing for. The man who is her business partner and who raised her, is now accused of murder. Her only hope for survival is to learn how to control her new magical abilities before the manticores catch her; and her partner's only hope lies with Thalia, as only she can clear his name while he is jailed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Overall this is a good story. The characters are likable, and the mystery helped propel the reader through the story. But while Stevermer does a fairly good job of blending multiple genres into one tale, in doing so she seems to have missed shining too brightly in any single one of them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-41630336674825435802020-04-19T14:28:00.001-05:002020-04-20T11:01:49.444-05:00Quick Review: And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, by Fredrik Backman<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, by Fredrik Backman</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Simon & Schuster Audio - 2019</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Literary Fiction</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Audiobook</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 Hour, 9 Minutes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narrated by David Morse</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "proxima nova alt" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">From the </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "proxima nova alt" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">New York Times </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "proxima nova alt" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">bestselling author of </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "proxima nova alt" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">A Man Called Ove</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "proxima nova alt" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "proxima nova alt" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "proxima nova alt" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "proxima nova alt" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Britt-Marie Was Here</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "proxima nova alt" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> comes an exquisitely moving portrait of an elderly man’s struggle to hold on to his most precious memories, and his family’s efforts to care for him even as they must find a way to let go.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Proxima Nova Alt", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Proxima Nova Alt", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "proxima nova alt" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">With all the same charm of his bestselling full-length novels, here Fredrik Backman once again reveals his unrivaled understanding of human nature and deep compassion for people in difficult circumstances. This is a tiny gem with a message you’ll treasure for a lifetime.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The book might be small, but the story is huge. Real, raw, and filled to the brim with heart and emotion. Nobody can get to heart of what it is to love and be human the way that Fredrik Backman can. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His stories always run the reader through the gamut of emotions with a balance and complexity few authors can compete with. This short book was no exception.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">David Morse did a very good job narrating this audiobook and was well suited to the story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer is a great, quick read that will hit you right in the feels, and make you thankful to have picked it up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-85508877884131745202020-04-05T19:03:00.001-05:002020-04-05T19:05:37.712-05:00Ramblings: Adjusting to Current Events<h2>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Adjusting to Current Events - What has changed at The Last Page Turned Book Blog </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An unplanned and unofficial hiatus</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Today is the first Sunday of the month. Normally I would be posting a Sunday Summary; but i've got nothing. I haven't written any reviews lately, in fact I have barely done any reading. Like many people I struggled to concentrate as so much information was coming at me. For the first time in a long time, I have struggled to follow audiobooks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Like a majority of other people, my world has been turned on its head. I no longer have my evenings to relax with a good book and/or take the time to write a full review. I haven't done any posts at all for the past month or so. It has been an unplanned hiatus of sorts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I am still working full-time as a secretary in a major hospital, but my work hours are now coordinated with my husband's shift work to ensure that my 8 year old is always supervised and cared for now that schools and daycare centres are closed. When I am home, I am busy caring for my son and </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">assisting him</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> with school work (as I am the parent with more patience for such things). It seems the only time I have to read now is a few pages between falling into bed, and falling asleep. My weekends are spent catching up on quality time as a family since my only waking contact with my husband is as one come home and the other leaves for work, and shopping for everything we need as well as ensuring my mother who is 84 also has everything she needs as well. As you all know, shopping is no longer a simple task. I used to order my groceries online, but now I can't even get a pick-up slot. I am forced to do it the hard way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I am hoping at some point to be granted the opportunity to do a majority of my work from home, but the nature of the information I deal with means it is easier said than done. I keep hoping though. Going to work gives my the heebie jeebies these days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">At first it looked like life would be disrupted for a few weeks, but recent information points to this going on for months. I have finally come to accept that this is going to be a long term issue and I can no longer wait for life to return to normal. I do not want to give up books or blogging, so the only thing left to do, is figure out how to adapt and make this work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Returning to blogging regularly - Introduction of Quick Reviews</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The one thing we have all been forced to do at times when life throws us curve balls, is adapt and try to make things work by doing things differently. Some changes occur on their own - I have less time to read, and I will have less reviews to write. Others require me to find a way to change - </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope to further address my lack of reading </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">time</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by reducing the amount of time spent on certain reviews, shifting some of that time back to reading. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For now at the very least, review copies and digital review copies generously provided to me by publishers, authors, or their representatives, will continue to reviewed the same way I have reviewed all books until now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For most, (if not all) books I that I have purchased or borrowed I will post reviews in a "Quick Review" format. A Quick Review will include a star rating, the publisher's </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">synopsis instead of my own, a few sentences speaking to what did or did not work for me, and any other thoughts that I feel compelled to share. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope that these changes will allow me to return to posting more regularly in the coming days. I have no doubt that life will be unsettled for some time, and more changes may come in the weeks and months ahead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My hope is that those who read this are healthy and finding ways own ways to adapt to this new, current reality we all find ourselves in. We are in this together...just apart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stay Safe, Stay Home. Read a Book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine.</span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-19764711867122082992020-03-11T12:14:00.000-05:002020-03-11T12:14:18.290-05:00Review: Darling Rose Gold, by Stephanie Wrobel<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Darling Rose Gold, by Stephanie Wrobel</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Simon & Schuster - Available March 17,2020</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thriller</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">320 Pages</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* I received this digital ARC courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Darling Rose Gold is thriller with a strong sinister feel to it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rose Gold Watts was <i>always </i>sick. From the time she was baby, she struggled with allergies and digestive issues that left her frail, weak and confined to a wheelchair for the most part, and spending much of her time at hospital and doctor's offices. For eighteen years her single mother Patty counted on the support of the community for financial and moral support as Rose Gold's illness consumed their lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Rose Gold was eighteen, the cause of her illness was finally determined to be Patty. Patty was charged, tried, and convicted with Rose Gold taking the witness stand against her. In the five years that Patty spent in prison, Rose Gold got a job, bought a house, and moved on with her life, and is now raising a baby herself. When Patty is released, she has no one else for support, and nowhere else to go. She turns to Rose Gold for a place to stay, and the community is shocked to find out that Rose Gold has actually agreed to take Patty in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Has Rose Gold really forgiven Patty for all that happened to her? Has Patty really forgiven Rose Gold for testifying against her in court? Has Patty changed in the last five years? The mother-daughter duo play out a twisted drama you can't help but wonder who will be the winner and who will be the loser. All Mother-daughter relationships can be a little complicated at times, but this pair raise that bar to new heights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This sinister feel to this story is almost tangible. Told in alternating points of view between these two women, it soon becomes clear that Rose Gold is not the sweet, demure victim she was as a child, and Patty's years behind bars have not improved her disposition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The plot was well thought out and had a good twist at the end. You might think you know what is going to happen, you might even figure out part of it, but you probably won't understand the whole thing until the final pieces slide into place at the end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/darling-rose-gold/9781982135041-item.html?ikwid=darling+Rose+Gold&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=3d6a59b16c76c022c531cd3dc1da9fcc" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="300" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HrTjvzwjz9uI96WLoyISKTwut5WysCwd5DTUwZt3A0YjU1X5BxzVuprmdPU-ZLiOUjZX4loN9CUm91fTcTfH0cKlsUHTZZtR8XS3udxVWi7nP4_XCqS0d0FbjK-Z6-9cvUQrQBaKNt4/s200/Chapters-Indigo-Button1-300x173.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Darling-Rose-Gold-Stephanie-Wrobel/dp/1982135042/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=darling+rose+gold&qid=1583586364&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="95" data-original-width="300" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfKae5MdUtSH5ziVQouNmM-BHBPc-q3-PNFmKXptmhG0pWhnHfmEkYooh6uXzhZP1qrrMkJ9XbstvtNJOXGYeMwiu55yyZEcLaUYIB1D64fA5MPUExu-MBuNMCsov9gMSPiZkfVtQwgU/s200/BuyNow-Button-AmazonCA-300x95-1.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-28453852842254230292020-03-01T16:10:00.005-06:002020-03-01T16:10:45.606-06:00Sunday Summary: February 1 to 29, 2020<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1120" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJurgVJk2f9PWEmOsqp5ffV6L49cK1kkeoRcMnzNVypbKiKf6wuQWZvq6eU8s7bFjrTQ1_q573YcNugfJ1YyF261HX_rwvGV7xj2C137Y1_3LChFKBDFSpcx7NbqVFOekTl-_dzAxaa0/s320/20191006_135906_0000.png" width="320" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh, the days are definitely getting longer! Spring is in the air and I LOVE IT! The world may be a bit of a mess right now, but somehow spring always fills me with hope. What is it about spring? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, spring is a great time for book lovers. Many publishers start putting out hot books for occasional readers to enjoy along with the die-hard readers on beachy vacations and summer travel. There are so many great books on the horizon, I am torn between the utter joy of it all, and a little sadness that I don't have enough time to read them all. There is great pleasure in trying though! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2020 is a leap year, so 1 extra day of reading!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1120" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi294tiOWt-1KAv3iJhYWaFhTstjVRZs9IvhrbKVdajwsAp84gXom6VUR0QiLsdXggm1qB_pSyH7QHNI4qgQRSIuq16zzJ6Bb_gnvPseyVQZq-KvV3_jp5-I2gwFAtY-ePzAmwyXk_V57k/s320/20191006_115214_0000.png" style="text-align: justify;" width="320" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am currently Reading Darling Rose Gold, by Stephanie Wrobel. A Thriller about a deranged mother and her now grown daughter. There is a definite creep factor at work in this book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have a lot of good looking stories on my "to be read' list, but the next one up will likely be The Glass Magician, by Caroline Stevermer. Although the synopsis does refer to a strong romantic element, you simply cannot compare a story to Helene Wecker's The Golem and the Jinni and not pique my interest! (Still waiting for the sequel to that one - The Iron Season, which was originally anticipated in...2018...hmmm *<i>checks calendar*, </i>oh well, fingers crossed).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have crossed 4 more of the categories off my list in February, bringing my total to 8. I have left some categories unchecked that could have been crossed off (how many audiobooks have I read this year?!) but those will be an easy fill at any time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is not too late to join the challenge - you can retro any books read in 2020. To see the details of the challenge click <a href="https://thelastpageturnedbookblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/20-for-2020-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span></div>
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<ol style="background-color: white; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Allerta;">
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>The Backlist</strike></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike> - Read a book that is at least 2 years old</strike>.- Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>The Frontlist </strike></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>- Read a book that is a new release (less than 6 months old)</strike> - Dear Edward, by Ann Napolitano</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">The Truth</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> - Read a Non-Fiction title that is not a biography/memoir (True Crime, Documentary, etc.)</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">People Person Books </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">- Read a Biography or memoir</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="text-decoration-line: line-through;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>The Quick and Eas</strike>y</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike> - Read a novella or short book - 250 pages or less (or the audiobook equivalent) OR read a collection of short stories.</strike> - Smile, by Roddy Doyle</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">The Long Haul </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">- Read a long book - 450 pages or more (or the audiobook equivalent)</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>Indie Inclined</strike></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike> - Read an Indie or small press published title</strike> – West Of Sin, by Wesley S. Lewis</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Listen Up!</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> - Listen to an audiobook</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Long Ago</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> - Read a book that takes place more than 25 years ago</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Different Worlds</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> - Read a Science Fiction or Fantasy Book</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Reading on the Edge of Your Seat</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> - Read a Thriller/Suspense/Mystery book</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Traveler Through Books</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> - Read a book that has been translated from another language</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="text-decoration-line: line-through;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>Young at Heart</strike> </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>- Read a YA novel Children of Virtue and Vengeanc</strike>e - by Tomi Adeyemi</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="text-decoration-line: line-through;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>Books That Go Bump In The Night</strike></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike> - Read a Horror or Ghost story</strike> - The Invited, by Jennifer McMahon</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: line-through;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>New Beginnings </strike></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>- Start a new (to you) series or trilogy</strike> - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Master of
Sorrows, book 1 of The Silent Gods, by Justin Call</span></span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Meet a New Author</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> - Read a debut novel</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Relationship Goals ...Or Not</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> - Read a book that centers around the beginning or the end of a relationship/marriage. (Romance, Domestic Noir, etc)</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Read a Movie</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"> - Read a book that is also a movie</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b style="text-decoration-line: line-through;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>The Winner is... </strike></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><strike>- Read a book Short-listed for a major literary award</strike> - To The River: Losing My Brother, by Don Gillmor</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">One World </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">- Read a book written by, and that has a main character that is someone of a different color, culture, sexual orientation, or religion than you.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
<br />Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-67367469052847830372020-02-29T09:34:00.002-06:002021-06-15T20:08:02.334-05:00Review: To The River: Losing My Brother, by Don Gillmor<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To The River: Losing My Brother, by Don Gillmor</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Random House Canada - 2018</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Non-Fiction</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Audiobook</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narrated by Michael Riley</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5 hours, 17 minutes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award for Non-Fiction 2019 this book is my choice for #19 - The Winner is...Read a book shortlisted for a major literary award on my 20 For 2020 Reading Challenge. You can see the whole challenge <a href="https://thelastpageturnedbookblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/20-for-2020-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NykG8tLaiNkxVv0j1cj_Pjb6AvBxsHmPqDIBptX7aBgGDwVn1ornpFWFoGSAN08BHlSkgi3GDgXzzMaF1ZMXC-HICiXSSVqv9cWzkaJb50b8LwzhkWSJShj6lXcfbK0VDcYxf9npFeo/s1600/20200229_091844_0000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NykG8tLaiNkxVv0j1cj_Pjb6AvBxsHmPqDIBptX7aBgGDwVn1ornpFWFoGSAN08BHlSkgi3GDgXzzMaF1ZMXC-HICiXSSVqv9cWzkaJb50b8LwzhkWSJShj6lXcfbK0VDcYxf9npFeo/s320/20200229_091844_0000.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A moving tribute to a man lost to suicide and the family he left behind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are three main aspects to this book. The first is a memorial of sorts and a look at what caused David Gillmor to leave behind his family and take his own life. The second part is a heartfelt look at the effects of suicide on the family and loved ones left behind, and the third is a presentation and well researched examination of why baby boomers - particularly the men, have come to have the fastest rising suicide rates. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One would think that a book about the writer's loss of a sibling to suicide would have a dark, oppressive feel to it. That is not the case. While Gillmor's book is heartbreaking, it is not without beauty and hope, and even - at times, humor. Perhaps that is due to this book being published 10 years after David Gillmor's death. Don Gillmor seems to be writing from a place where the wounds while still there, are not quite so raw. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don Gillmor's brother David disappeared one day, leaving behind his truck and his hat, and some footprints on the half-frozen Yukon River near the town of Whitehorse. In doing so he left behind more questions than answers, and the family was left in a sort of limbo as nobody could even confirm his death. They were forced to wait as the river's secrets remained locked in ice until the spring thaw six months later. When the waters did thaw, Don embarked on what was to be a canoe trip to look for any trace of his missing brother, but David's body was recovered before Don could dip his paddle into the water, and he received the news shortly after arriving in Whitehorse. The remainder of the trip was Don's exercise in mourning and an attempt to understand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the warmth of nostalgia, Don Gillmor takes us back to the beginning; the early days of their childhood in Winnipeg. What set David apart from Don and the other neighborhood kids? From there examines their lives through growing up, from moves to Calgary and beyond, and the growing challenges and responsibilities of adulthood. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gillmor then calls on his gift of prose to explain what was like for him and his surviving family after David's body was recovered. His ability to express the complicated emotions and impact on the remaining family resonated powerfully with me as a reader. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, Gillmor expands past his family's own heartbreak and discusses in more general terms the personal, professional and socio-economic pressures and triggers that are contributing to a higher than ever suicide rate among middle aged men. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narration was by Michael Riley and was well suited to the subject matter of the book, and was delivered with a clear voice and pleasant tone and cadence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To The River is a beautiful and meaningful tribute to one man, and a thoughtful look at a growing social issue. It is touching, it is informative, and it is powerful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/to-the-river-losing-my/9780345814661-item.html?ikwid=to+the+river+losing+my+brother&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=2876388e1b1e0ac8e28e035a1ca3bd5a" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="300" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HrTjvzwjz9uI96WLoyISKTwut5WysCwd5DTUwZt3A0YjU1X5BxzVuprmdPU-ZLiOUjZX4loN9CUm91fTcTfH0cKlsUHTZZtR8XS3udxVWi7nP4_XCqS0d0FbjK-Z6-9cvUQrQBaKNt4/s200/Chapters-Indigo-Button1-300x173.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/River-Losing-My-Brother/dp/0345814665/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="95" data-original-width="300" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfKae5MdUtSH5ziVQouNmM-BHBPc-q3-PNFmKXptmhG0pWhnHfmEkYooh6uXzhZP1qrrMkJ9XbstvtNJOXGYeMwiu55yyZEcLaUYIB1D64fA5MPUExu-MBuNMCsov9gMSPiZkfVtQwgU/s200/BuyNow-Button-AmazonCA-300x95-1.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-13885641716294733982020-02-28T10:50:00.003-06:002020-02-28T11:08:35.190-06:00Review: The Invited, by Jennifer McMahon<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Invited, by Jennifer McMahon</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Random House Audio - 2019</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Horror </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Audiobook</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narrated by Amanda Carlin, and Justine Eyre</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">11 Hours, 50 Minutes</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A ghost story, this book fulfills item #14 - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Books
That Go Bump In The Night</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> -
Read a Horror or Ghost story, <span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">on my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge. Click <a href="https://thelastpageturnedbookblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/20-for-2020-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> for the full challenge</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can you build a haunted house?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Helen and Nate decide to give up city life for a simpler country life, they spend some time shopping for their new country home. Not finding the right one, they strap on tool belts, grab their hammers, and build their own. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They find a plot of land in rural Vermont with a motivated seller and set to work. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their vision is to blend simple historic design and appearance with modern efficiency. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Helen, a former history teacher, becomes enamored with the local lore and learns the plot of land they bought once belonged to Hattie Breckenridge, a woman hung for witchcraft a hundred years earlier but long after the end of the famous witch hunts, after being blamed for a fire that killed several local children. Helen becomes obsessed with the story of Hattie and other local tragedies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While shopping for recycled building materials to aid in the historic look and feel of the house, Helen finds items attached to these events and buys them to incorporate into their home - the stunning hand-hewn main beam, a mantle, old bricks. There is a common thread running through each of the horrible tragedies - Hattie and her descendants. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a series strange events, it becomes clear to Nate and Helen that they are building a haunted house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most ghost stories require the reader to suspend reality to a certain degree, and that is to be expected, but the story should still have a realistic "feel" to it. On the whole, this story's concept wa</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s very good and I definitely enjoyed it, but it was in the close quarters of the "here and now-real world" part of the story where I felt that the fine line between suspending reality and keeping a realistic feel was really being tested, and kept it from being the really great story I thought it had the potential to be. For me, it was easier to suspend reality for the otherworldly aspects of the story and they had a more realistic feel to them than the parts that were actually supposed to be more realistic. I had issues with two school teachers with limited construction experience building a house from the ground up by themselves, and also with with Olive's lack of school attendance and failure by every single adult to address it, but the basic plot was good enough to support the story for me, so overall I still see this as a good book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narration was provided </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by Amanda Carlin, and Justine Eyre who both performed well. Clear, with pleasant tones and cadence, and good character differentiation and range of emotion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Invited by Jennifer McMahon is a ghost story with a unique and well thought out concept, but a story that may have fallen slightly shy of its potential. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-1784275254170407382020-02-25T09:43:00.001-06:002020-02-25T09:44:16.911-06:00Review: Master Of Sorrows, by Justin T. Call<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Master Of Sorrows, by Justin T. Call</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Blackstone Publishing - February 25, 2020</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Series: Silent Gods - Book 1 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">E-book</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">592 Pages</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* I received this digital ARC courtesy of Blackstone Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>As the first book in an exciting new Fantasy series, Master of Sorrows is my choice to fulfill item <u>#15 - <span style="background-color: white;">New Beginnings</span><b style="background-color: white;"> </b></u><span style="background-color: white;"><u>- Start a new (to you) series or trilogy</u> on my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge. You can see the whole challenge <a href="https://thelastpageturnedbookblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/20-for-2020-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A rich and epic tale for young and old, Master Of Sorrows is one of the most exciting new fantasy series I have had the pleasure of reading in some time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The tiny village of Chaenbalu is hidden to others, nestled amidst the forests. In this village is a young man is dreaming of a future he was never meant to have. Born with only one arm, the baby - Annev, was was meant to be executed because he was seen as the child of an evil one armed deity. Instead, he was secretly returned to the village and raised by the local priest and taught forbidden magic. Thanks to a magical prosthetic, he attends the local academy with the other boys his age, and trains as a fighter and warrior. N</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">obody in the village, save for the priest who raised him, knows about his deformity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the dark forces hunting him start to close in, the opposing forces of his upbringing, training and destiny collide, and he is forced to make difficult decisions the results of which have enormous impact. Everything he ever thought he knew about anybody - including himself, is called into question.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The book does not open with a bang, but it did keep my interest as it laid a foundation worthy of all that was yet to come - and there was so much more to come in this book alone, let alone the remaining books planned for the series. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once the foundation was laid for this story, the rising action kept me white knuckling my Kindle the rest of the way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The story contained all the classic elements of an epic fantasy - Good vs. Evil, moral dilemma, internal struggle, a battle against all odds, loyalty, rivalry, and self discovery, but somehow Call has breathed new life into the standard tropes and formulas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This book felt fresh, new, and exciting. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The magic system was original and well structured. While magic is usually revered in books, in this story while it is not an unknown element, it is not well received by the people of the village, with most magic considered sinister. The world building is on point, giving the reader a carefully crafted and consistent framework with which to view the events of the story. The characters were well developed and ranged from those I loved, to those I loved to hate, and some that were harder to define fell in-between. I loved that Call chose to write the story not without a love interest for the main character, but without clouding the story with an overbearing romance plot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The year is young, yet I feel safe in saying that this book will make my list of favorite books of 2020. I am looking forward to the next book in the series - Master Artificer (first draft complete) due to release in the UK in February 2021 according to Call's website, and North American markets some time (hopefully soon) after that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Master-Sorrows-Silent-Gods-Book/dp/1473222877/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=master+of+sorrows&qid=1582645420&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="95" data-original-width="300" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfKae5MdUtSH5ziVQouNmM-BHBPc-q3-PNFmKXptmhG0pWhnHfmEkYooh6uXzhZP1qrrMkJ9XbstvtNJOXGYeMwiu55yyZEcLaUYIB1D64fA5MPUExu-MBuNMCsov9gMSPiZkfVtQwgU/s200/BuyNow-Button-AmazonCA-300x95-1.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-71279583801958346372020-02-19T11:30:00.000-06:002020-02-19T11:30:33.151-06:00Woman On The Edge, by Samantha M. Bailey<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Woman On The Edge, by Samantha M. Bailey</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Simon & Schuster Audio - 2019</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thriller</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8 Hours, 25 Minutes</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What drives a woman to do the unthinkable? To give her baby to a stranger and leap to her death?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nicole Markham was a woman who had it all. Founder and CEO of a major athletic brand, she had a successful career, financial security and then a beautiful baby. One day, looking haggard and disheveled, she speaks to a stranger, calling them by name and asking them to take her baby before thrusting the child into the stranger's arms and jumping in front of a subway train. Morgan Kincaid is left stunned, speechless, and holding the woman's baby. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With no corroborating witnesses she is soon the main suspect in the police investigation into Nicole's death. When it becomes clear that that the police are not looking any further than Morgan, she is determined to clear her own name. Was Nicole being stalked and in danger, or was she just paranoid? After mysterious events and close calls, Morgan realizes she may now be the one in danger. And just how did Nicole Markham know her name?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is no beating around the bush here, the story forcibly grabbed my attention in the first few paragraphs, and a steady level of suspense saw the story to its conclusion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narration was performed by Kathrine Fenton who has a clear and pleasant voice with good tone and cadence, as well as a good range of character and emotion for the story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Woman On The Edge, by Samantha Bailey is a solid debut thriller and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine</span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886267483403066272.post-62916329265307313972020-02-13T12:37:00.004-06:002020-02-13T12:37:57.646-06:00Review: Someone We Know, by Shari Lapena<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Someone We Know, by Shari Lapena</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Penguin Audio - 2019</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fiction - Thriller</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Audiobook</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narrated by Kirsten Potter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7 Hours, 50 Minutes</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Someone We Know, by Shari Lapena has a strong story line, but what could have been a great book, fell short of its potential for me, still good - but not great. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In a happy middle-class neighborhood, a teen is breaking into homes to hack computers, snoop and send prank e-mails. When anonymous letters surface from a mystery parent telling people that their homes and computers have been compromised, people in the neighborhood start to worry. When a missing woman turns up murdered, nerves fray, tensions, rise and everyone is both a suspect and suspicious. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Everyone in this neighborhood seems to be up to something they don't want anyone else knowing about and desperate to keep their secrets, and one of them is even a murderer.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The plot certainly had me intrigued, so many secrets, so many possibilities! My mind was constantly turning over the possibilities of who the murderer was. The husband? The moody teen with a criminal hobby? A scorned spouse or lover?So many possibilities swirling in my mind! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately, I didn't feel like it mattered to me who it was. I didn't really like any of the characters, but for that matter I didn't really hate any single character either. I am one of those readers that is happiest when I have a character that I love, or a character that I love to hate. None of the characters in this story stood out to me in either a particularly good or bad way compared to the others. I never once thought to myself "I hope it's not 'x', he seems like a decent guy caught in bad circumstances"; Or, "I just know it must be 'x', she is so nasty and devious!". In the end, while I was interested from a rational perspective as to who the killer was, I was not at all emotionally invested enough in any of the characters for it to really matter other than addressing my idle curiosity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Narration was performed by Kirsten Potter who read with a clear and pleasant voice, good cadence and tone, and provided an appropriate range of emotion and character. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Someone We Know is a thriller that is strong on plot but fell short of its true potential. </span><br />
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071113526159444982noreply@blogger.com1